Editorial: Driving toward a municipal garage

Brief thoughts on some of the events making news from around Franklin County and the North Quabbin area:

With the decision by the Greenfield Town Council to approve spending money to buy the former Hapco building on Olive Street, the town is taking a significant step toward its goal of building a multi-story parking garage there. Of course, this purchase is just one of several complicated and costly steps to come. As planning continues, we hope that the mayor and those supporting this effort make sure that there is a walkway that gets people from the garage to Main Street without too much of an uphill climb. Otherwise, the garage might not get the traffic that officials envision.

In the fight against hunger

A tip of the hat to Franklin County Community Meals Program which has been trying for the past 30 years to make sure that hunger isn’t an issue for county residents. Unfortunately, the program is seeing more and more of a need as people find themselves in a tough economic bind. As Sharon Pleasant, the program’s executive director, said about whom they’re helping, “The people ... are working families ... that come in, often in tears, never thinking they’d find themselves here.” No one wants to be in such a position. Thankfully, there are organizations like Community Meals but they can’t do it alone. If you can make a donation, why not do so? Contact the program at 413-772-1033.

Bump in road of South County EMS

The decision by William Travis to decide against taking the director’s job for the new South County Emergency Medical Services Department after initially accepting the offer is a small bump in the road. It is better for all parties concerned to have this happen now then a couple of months later. Meanwhile, congratulations to Zachary Smith, a Deerfield resident, for getting the job after Travis changed his mind.